A dream stay at California’s famous Invisible House turned into a $10,000 (Rs 8.79 lakh) nightmare for influencer Sean Davis after what seemed like a harmless mirror selfie spiralled into a costly dispute.

The property, a mirrored glass mansion in the desert near Joshua Tree National Park, is one of Airbnb’s most iconic listings. But it has also become the centre of a debate about influencer culture and what counts as commercial photography.

Davis explained in a TikTok video that the issue began when a friend’s girlfriend snapped a casual bathroom mirror selfie during their stay. The photo was later posted on Instagram, tagged with a brand and reshared. The hosts considered this to be a violation of the house’s strict no-commercial-shooting policy.

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“We didn’t let them know we were taking some photos outside and got shook down for 10k over a selfie tagging a brand not even mine,” Davis claimed. He stressed that no professional shoot took place inside the property, adding, “We didn’t actually shoot any brand content in the house. We shot outside, but they had an issue with a selfie.”

The hosts demanded an additional $10,000 for breach of contract, leaving Davis stunned. He called the stay “a complete nightmare” and warned others about booking the property, which he said may look glamorous online but comes with “wildly strict rules” and unexpected risks for content creators.

Designed by Hollywood producers Chris and Roberta Hanley, the Invisible House is a 5,500-square-foot mirrored masterpiece valued at around $18 million. With four bedrooms, a 100-foot indoor solar-heated pool and private access to a mountain peak, the home has become a celebrity magnet. Demi Lovato, Lizzo and Diplo have all stayed there. It has also been featured on Netflix’s World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals.